Cash-register.



No. 65I,734. y Patented lune I2, |900. T. WHITT.

` ."CASH'BEGISTEB.

(Application led Jan. 1 9, 1900.)

(No Model.)

@Way

Tn: 'Normxs PETERS Co, Pr-mwcxLnrxo.A wAsHlNoToN. n. c.

Patented June |2, |900.

Nu. 65I,734.

T. wmTT. CASH REGIS-TER.

(Application flled Jan, 19, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT Ormea.

THOMAS VHIT'I, OF MOUNATSTERLING, KENTUCKY.

y'CASI-l-REGISTVER.

SPECIFICATTON arming part of Letters Patent No. 651,734., dated June 12, 1 90o.

i Application led January 19,1900. Serial No. 21038. (No model.)

To @ZZ wiz/0m it may 00h/007%:

Be it known that I, THOMAS VHITT, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Mount Sterling, in the county of Montgomery and State of Kentucky, have inventeda new and useful Cash-Register, is a specification.V

The invention relates to improvements in cash-registers.

One object of the present invention isto improve the construction ot' cash-registers and to provide a simple and comparativelyinexpensive one in which the amount of the purchase will be indicated by a tablet which is thrown upward and exposed to View.

Further objects of the invention are to provide adding mechanism for registering the totals of the amountsthat have been indicated by the tablets and to provide a strip or ribbon of paper adapted to be advanced by the outward and inward movement of the cash drawer or till and designed to contain a:

record of credit transactions and other memoranda.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement ofV parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, VFigure 1 is a side eleva-v tion of a cash-register constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is averti'cal sectional view taken longitudinally of one of the key-levers. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. d is a transverse sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 isfavertical sectional view of the rearA portion of the cash-register, one of the loose pulleys or wheels being in section and the key corresponding to the same being depressed. Fig. G is a detail view illustrating the construction of the pivoted register-disk which is operated by the dollar-wheel. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view illustrating the arrangement of a series of swinging catches. Fig. S is a detail view illustrating the man ner of mounting the swinging catch on the main frame.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding partsin all the figures ofthe drawings.

1 designates a main frame arranged within of which the following a suitable cab-inet or casing 2, which is provided at its bottom with a cash drawer or till 3, normally locked in its closed position by the means hereinafter described 'and adapted lto be released and opened when one of the key-levers 4 is depressed, the operation being similar in this respect to the ordinary cashregister. A horizontal main shaft 5 extends entirely across the casing, being journaled ini suitable bearings of the main frame, and, as

illustrated in Fig. 4 of ther accompanying drawings, one end of the shaft isextended beyond the main frame and carries a hand 6, which moves over an annularseries of graduations 7 of a graduated plate 8, located within the casing, preferably beneath or at the in' ner face of a transparent portion thereof, whereby the adding mechanism may be readily inspected. The annular series of graduations 7 is designed to represent cents, and

the hand 6 makes one complete revolution .when one hundred cents have been added by the means hereinafter described.Y extended end of the main shaft isv provided lwith a tooth 9, adapted, when the 'shaft has :made one complete revolution, to engage one The of the teeth of a dollar-wheel 10, mounted on a suitable stub shaft or journal and provided with a sleeve or hub 11, upon which a dollar-hand 12 .is mounted, such dollarhand 12 being arranged to operate over an annular series of dollar graduations 13,which vmay be of any desired number, but which is shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings to be forty. The dollar-wheel 10 is provided near its periphery with a projection 14, adapted to engage one of the teeth of a wheel l5 each time the dollar-wheel makes one complete revolution. The wheel 15, which is mounted on a suitable stub-shaft, is provided with a sleeve or hub 16 and carries a hand 17, which moves over an annular seriesv grade movement and are prevented from ro-y IOO tating forward more than one tooth at a time by springs 1t) and 20, mounted on the main frame and engaging the teeth of said wheels 10 and l5, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

Each key-lever, which is fuleru med between its ends at 2O on a suitable support, is provided at its outer end with a suitable head 2l, adapted to be engaged by the linger of the operator and designed to bear a numeral indicating the amount which is added when it is depressed. rThe inner or rear end of the key-lever is connected by a chain 22 with a loose wheel or pulley 23 and is adapted to rotate the same when it is depressed. The loose wheel, which is grooved at its periphery to receive the flexible connection 22, carries an actuating-pawl 24,which engages a ratchetwheel 25, fixed to the main shaft, and when the wheel 23 rotates forwardlyit carries with it the main shaft by reason of the ratchetwheel and the pawl, which forms a clutch. The movement of the key-lever is limited by the means hereinafterdescribed, so that when the key-lever is depressed the lnain shaft will be rotated a distance corresponding to the denomination of the key whereby the proper amount will be added by the adding mechanism. The pawl 24is held in engagement with the ratchet-wheel by a spring 26, and as soon as the key-lever is released by the operator it is returned to its normal position by a coiled spring 27, secured to the main frame, at the bottom thereof, and connected with the loose wheel by a chain 28 or other suitable exible connection, which extends around the wheel 23 in the opposite direction from the chain 22. The movement of the loose wheel and the corresponding movement of the main shaft are limited by a loop or keeper 29, mounted on a transverse rod or other suitable support and receiving an arm 30, extending from the periphery of the loose wheel at one side of the groove, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings. The loops or keepers 29, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4t of the drawings, gradually increase in length from one side of the casing to the other to provide for a grad u all y-increasin g movement ot' the loose wheels and the shaft, and by this construction the keys are adapted to rotate the shaft different distances. rThe diameters of the loose wheels may be varied to enable the shaft to be rotated the desired extent by a given movement of the key-levers, so that the parts may be readily constructed to rotate the shaft 5 the necessary extent.

The upper end of the chain 22 is preferably connected with the inner end ofthe key-lever, which is forked by a yoke 3l, to which is also secured a chain or other flexible connection, which passes around a transverse shaft or roller 33, whereby the latter will be partially rotated at each depression of a key. The roller is centrally connected by a chain 34 or other suitable iiexible connection with a verticallyreciprocating sprin g actuated bolt 35, located above the rear end of the cash drawer or till and adapted to lock the same in its closed position, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings. The lower end of the bolt, which is beveled, extends through a horizontal platform or parltit-ion 3G and projects below the upper edge of the rear wall of the cash drawer or till, which is released, as clearly illustrated in Fig.y 5 of the accompanying drawings, when the bolt is raised by the depression of a key, and the said drawer or till maybe opened by hand or it may be thrown outward b ya spring, as will be readily understood. Thebolt, which may be mounted in any suitable manner, operates through an opening of the horizontal platform or partition 36 and has a coiled spring 37 disposed on it, the upper end of the coiled spring being secured to the bolt and the lower end of the same being fastened to the platform or partition 3G. lVhen the drawer or till is closed, it is adapted to engage the lower beveled end ofthe bolt and lock itself automatically.

The forked end of each key-lever carries an antifriction-roller 38, adapted, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings, to engage the lower end of a vertically-sliding tabletrod 3l), mounted in vertically-alined guides 40 and adapted to be engaged by a swinging catch 4l, whereby it is retained in an elevated position. The upper end of the rod 39 is designed to be provided with a tablet 42, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4t of the drawings, and the tablet is designed to bear a number corresponding with the numeral of the keylever, whereby the amount of a purchase is indicated. The top of the casing or cabinet is designed to be provided with a suitable transparent portion or portions, so that the tablets will be clearly visible.

The vertieztlly-alined guides preferably consist of openings or perforations formed in horizontal bars, and the swinging catch ,tl consists of an eccentrically-pivoted bar normally held in engagement with the rods 39, which are provided with shoulders 43, adapted to rest upon the upper face of the swinging catch. Each rod is reduced to form the shoulder 43 and is provided above the same with an enlargement 44, adapted when the rod is raised to engage the under side of the swinging catch and move the latter outward from beneath the shoulder of the rod of the tablet indicating the previous sale, whereby the tablet of the previous sale will be automat.- ieally returned toits lowered or normal position. The outward movement of the swinging catch is limited by a suitable stop 4t to prevent it from being thrown backward too far. If desired, a series of swinging catches may be coupled together, as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings, by a bar 45, and this construction will enable tablet-rods of different lengths to be employed when it is necessary to arrange them close together. The shoulders of the rods may be arranged at IOS IIO

ditferent elevations when the rods are at the limit of their upward movement,and they will be engaged by the adjacent catches when a series such as is shown in Fig. 7 is employed. By coupling the swinging catches together in this manner they will move in unison and a tablet-rod supported by any one of them will be dropped by the upward movement of the tablet-rod indicating the next sale. The vertical movement of the tablet-rods is limited by projections or stops 46, extending from the rods and located between the guides 40 and moving in vertical guides 47, consisting of parallel wires mounted on the guides 40 and adapted to prevent the tablet-rods from rotating and disarranging the tablets. The rollers or antifriction-wheels on the inner or rear ends of the key-levers enable the tabletrods to be readily operated without binding against the said key-levers.

The cash-register is provided at one side with a pivoted indicator 48, mounted between its ends on a suitable arm or support of the main frame and provided with an inner beveled endet), adapted to swing upward automatically into engagement with a horizontal arm 50 of a pivoted su p porting-lever 51. The supporting-lever 5l,which is pivoted between its ends at 52, is normally held in position for' supporting the pivoted indicator by a coiled spring 53, secured to the upper portion of the supporting-lever and to the arm 54 of the supporting-frame. The lower end or portion of the supporting-lever is located in the path of the lug or projection 55, extending from the inner face of the dollar-wheel l0 and adapted to swing the upper end of the supportinglever from beneath the inner beveled end of the pivoted indicator when the said dollarwheel has made one complete revolution. The inner arm or portion of the pivoted indicator is heavier than the outer or rear portion and as soon as the support is withdrawn the weighted or heavier portion drops and the pivoted indicator assumes the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings, the weighted end resting against a suitable stop n. The rear end of the pivoted indicator may be arranged to project through the back of the casing, as illustrated in Figs. l, 2, and 5 of the accompanying drawings, and after it has been operated by the dollar-wheel it may be readily rengaged with the supporting-lever by swinging the projecting rear portion downward.

The front portion of the casing below the key-levers is provided with an opening 56, through which is exposed a strip or ribbon 57, arranged in a roll on a spool 58 and adapted to be unwound therefrom and wound around a second shaft or spool 59. The strip or ribbon of paper is adapted to receive a record of credit sales or other memoranda, and each time the drawer or till is closed a portion of the strip or ribbon is unwo und from the outer spool or roll and wound around the inner shaft 59 is provided near one end with a rigid flange or wheel 60, provided at its periphery with ratchet-teeth, which are engaged by a spring-actuated pawl 6l to prevent retrograde rotation of the shaft 59. The other end of the shaft carries the ratchet-wheel 62,which is engaged by an actuating-pawl 63, mounted on a lever 6l, having an enlarged head forming one side ofthe spool and arranged loose on the shaft 59. The lever 64 depends through a slot 65 of the horizontal platform or partition 36 and is adapted to be engaged by' the drawer or till. Vhen the drawer or till moves outward,- a stop or projection 66 engages the lever, at the inner side thereof, and oscillates thersame, carrying the lever to the outer end of the slot 65. This movement of the oscillating lever carries the actuating-pawl backward over the teeth of the lixed ratchet-wheel 62 and does not rotate the shaft 59; but when the drawer is moved inward the oscillating lever is swung in the opposite direction and the actuating-pawl 63 engages the shoulders ot' the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 62 and rotates the shaft 59, thereby winding a portion of the ribbon or strip of paper thereon. The strip or ribbon of paper passes from the top of the outer spool or holder downward'beneath the shaft 59, and the horizontal partition or platform 36 is provided with springs 67, located at the ends of the slot 65, and forming cushions for the oscillating lever and adapted to return the same to a position to be engaged by the stop 66 of the drawer or till or the front portion thereof. By locating the springs 67 at the ends of the slot of the platform 36 one or the other of the springs will engage the lever 64 when the drawer or till is moved inward and outward. This construction will prevent the oscillating lever from being swung backward or forward too far by any su dden movement of the drawer or till. The actuating-pawl 63 is held in engagement with the ixed ratchet-wheel of the shaft 59 by a spring 68, secured at one end IOO IIO

to the outer face of the enlargement or head of the oscillating lever and having its other end bearing against the upper edge of the pivoted pawl 63. The front spool or holder and the rear shaft or spool are journaled in suitable bearings of brackets or supports located at the front ot' the casing.

The front of the casing is provided with slots or openings 70, through which the keylevers extend, and the return of the latter is elfected by coiled springs 71, which cooperate with the springs 27. The coiled springs 7l are connected with the inner arms of the levers at points adjacent to the support, and they extend downward and forward,as clearly vto illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5 of the accompanying drawings; but .any other arrangement may be employed.

It will be seen that the cash-register is eX- ceedingly sim ple and inexpensive in construetion, as the devices for actuating the adding mechanism are mounted on a suitable horizontal shaft, and that the key-levers are arranged in a single horizontal row within convenient reach of the operator. It will also be apparent that besides adding the sales the cash-register is adapted to automatically feed or unreel a strip of ribbon or paper to provide convenient means for keeping an account of credit sales or other memoranda. Furthermore, it will be clear that the pivoted indicator is automatically operated when one of the wheels has made a complete revolution and that it is readily reset by simply swinging` its outer or rear end downward.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resort* ed to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What is claimed is- 1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a shaft, a fixed ratchet-wheel mounted on the shaft, a loose wheel provided with means for engaging the ratchet-wheel and having an arm, a keeper receiving` the arm and limiting the movement of the loose wheel, and means for rotatingthe loose wheel, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a shaft, a loose wheel mounted on the shaft and provided with an arm extending radially from it, a keeper receiving the arm and limiting the movement of the loose wheel, means for actuating the loose wheel, and a clutch connecting the loose wheel with the shaft and actuating the latter when the loose wheel is rotated forwardly, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a horizon tal shaft,loose wheels mounted on the shaft and provided with arms, a series of keepers of different lengths receiving the arms and limiting the movement of the loose wheels, clutches connecting the loose wheels with the shaft, and means for actuating the loose wheels, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a horizontal shaft, ratchetwheels fixed to the shaft, loose wheels also mounted on the shaft and provided with means for engaging the ratchet-wheels, arms extending from the loose Wheels, a series of keepers of different lengths receiving the arms and limiting the movement of the loose wheels, keys connected with and adapted to actuate the loose wheels, and means for returningthe loose wheels to their normal position, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing having a drawer or till, a locking device for holding the drawer or till in its closed position, a transverse roll or shaft connected with the locking device, a main shaft provided with a series of ratchetwheels, loose wheels mounted on the main shaft and provided with means for engaging the ratchet-wheels, connections between the loose wheels and the transverse roller or shaft, and keys for actuating the loose wheels, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supportingframe, levers f ulcrumed on the supporting-frame and pro-l vided with antifrietion rollers, a series of vertically-movable tablet-rods arranged to be engaged and lifted by the antifriotion-rollers of the levers, said rods being provided with shoulders and having enlargements above the same, a swinging catch 'arranged to engage the said shoulders and adapted to be swung outward by the enlargements of the rods, vertical guides and projections carried by the `reds and arranged in the guides, whereby the .rods are prevented from turning, substan tially as described.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting-frame, vertically-n1ovablerods provided with shoulders and having enlargements above the same, a swinging catch arranged to engage the said shoulders and adapted to be swung out of engagement with the enlargements, vertical guides, and projections carried by the rods and arranged in the guides, substantially as described.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing, of a movable indicator arranged to extend through the cas ing, a support arranged to hold the indicator, and a wheel having a lug` or projection `arranged to engage the support, and adapted to throw the same from beneath the indicator, substantially as described.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing, of a wheel having a lug, a pivoted lever arranged in the path of the lug, and a pivoted indicator arranged to extend through the casing and having one end weighted or heavier than the other end, t-he weighted or heavier end of the indicator being supported by the said lever and adapted to swing downward when the lever is disengaged from it by the said lugs, substantially as described.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing, of a supporting frame having a stop, a pivoted indicator arranged to extend beyond the casing and havn ing a weighted end arranged to engage the said stop, a wheel provided with a lug, and a spring-actuated lever arranged in the path of the lug and provided with an arm for supporting the weighted end of the indicator,

substantially as described.

IOO

IIO

l1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing having a drawer or till, a shaft or drum arranged to receive a strip or ribbon of paper or other material, an oscillating lever having a clutch connection with the shaft or drum and arranged to be engaged by the drawer or till, and springs mounted within the casing and located at pposite sides of the lever and arranged to be engaged by the latter when the drawer is Io opened and closed, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my si gnature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS WHITT.

Vitnesses:

C. C. CHENAULT, W. B. WHITE. 

